My Beautiful Neighbor (The Greene Family #1) - Piper Rayne Page 0,55

my hair while he comes down my throat. After we’re done, his thumb runs along my bottom lip and he stares in my eyes as if I’m a puzzle he needs to figure out.

“You’re way too good at that,” he says, but I feel as though there’s something else he wanted to say. Something he’s holding back. Especially when he urges me up under my arms and wraps his arms around me, kissing my neck. “I wish we could take a nap.”

Last I knew, friends with benefits don’t take naps, so I spring back. “I’m really hungry.”

“You’re not full enough after the Kielbasa?” He taps my ass to get up off him.

We both button our pants and I put myself back together, finger-combing my hair, and we head to the kitchen where he prepares me a sandwich.

“So the rental place has a car for me. You can drop me off, then I’m heading to the grocery store.”

“And what about staying there for a while longer?”

I’ve been thinking about it all morning. Being at the apartment this morning was nice. It’s not much bigger than my room at Glacier Point, but it’d be cheaper. Plus it has a kitchen, and it would be nice to cook for myself a little. “I want to pay rent.”

He shakes his head.

“That’s the only way I’ll agree to do it.”

He finishes his sandwich, downing his water after, and crinkles the bottle. “I’m sure we can figure out some kind of arrangement.” He waggles his eyebrows.

“Like I’m a hooker?”

“No!” he says loudly. “I mean…” But he must think about it and see my point. “Okay, fine. Pay whatever you want.”

“Glad you finally came to see things my way.” I smile.

When we’re done eating, we walk out to the sidewalk and find Adam and Jed putting up the awning.

“Oh, you guys didn’t have to do that,” I say.

“It’s either that or you break an ankle,” Adam says, looking at Cade behind me.

I’m shocked to find Jed helping.

“I guess since you’re not going anywhere,” Jed says, climbing down after he finishes, “you might as well be official.”

We all stare at the awning that has the words The Story Shop scrawled across it. Cade’s front is to my back. Although we’re not touching, I’m very aware of his presence.

Zoe from The Grind comes out and claps. “It looks awesome,” she shouts from across the street.

Chuck steps out of the butcher’s, and for the first time, I see a grin on his face. “Welcome, neighbor.”

A few Sunrise Bay people stop and say how excited they are about the shop opening too, and a seed of happiness sprouts inside. Maybe things in this town are finally coming together. I have my store, a place to stay, and soon I’ll have a way to get around. And then there’s Cade, although I’m not sure for how long I’ll have him.

It’s almost too easy and too simple, but I’ll enjoy it for as long as I can.

“Jed?” A woman’s voice invades my bubble. “Cade?”

All four of us turn, but it’s Adam’s hand on my shoulder that tells me this is something I should be concerned about.

“Reese?” Cade says. I’ve heard the name enough to know she used to date Cade, but I have no idea how long or how serious it was.

“Reese.” Jed rolls his eyes at Adam, her name falling from his lips with a very different tone.

Cade wraps his arms around Reese, and she closes her eyes and inhales. I know the scent she’s smelling right now, and it makes me want to yank him away from her and say that smell is mine. But he doesn’t belong to me.

“When did you get back?” he asks, as though they keep up with one another.

“Yeah, Reese, what brings you back?” Jed asks, disdain clear in his voice.

Now I’m all kinds of confused. Why would Jed hate her?

She’s a blonde, but her hair is on the short side and it’s straight. She glances over Cade’s shoulder then up at the awning.

“Oh, you must be the Presley I heard about who’s opening the new bookstore?” She walks away from Cade, but I know I’m not imagining the way his eyes are glued to her as she walks toward me.

I put out my hand. “Hi. Yes, I’m Presley.”

After she shakes my hand, she peeks in the window and smiles. “It’s so cute.”

“Thank you.”

“Oh, I’m Reese,” she says, but doesn’t give me a moment to respond before turning to Adam. “Adam.” She holds her arms out